Cushioned shipping folder

ABSTRACT

A cushioned shipping folder for books or the like is characterized by a pair of end cells of triangular configuration with an extra reinforcing ply extending diagonally alongside the cell to cause the cell to be resistant to crushing or other deformation. The triangular cross section cell is so constructed that a distal edge thereof together with distal edges of a main panel of the folder is caused to be held snugly in a line of fold of the reinforcing ply of the cell.

United States atent Carpenter et a1.

[ Oct. 30, 1973 C USHIONED SHIPPING FOLDER inventors: John L. Carpenter, Anderson;

Charles R. Ostler, Shirley, both of 1nd.

Container Corporation of America, Chicago, 111.

Filed: June 8, 1972 Appl. No.: 260,913

Assignee:

U.S. Cl. 229/40, 206/46 FR Int. Cl 865d 5/02 Field of Search 229/40; 206/46 FR,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1961 Shepherd 229/40 11/1962 Mairs 6/1964 Meyers 229/40 3,386,642 6/1968 Young 229/40 3,399,821 9/1968 Ringholz 3,445,054 5/1969 Champlin....

3,682,370 8/1972 Rous 3,722,783 3/1973 Rous 229/40 Primary Examiner-William T. Dixson, Jr. Assistant ExaminerStephen P. Garbe Attorney-Carpenter et al.

[5 7 ABSTRACT A cushioned shipping folder for books or the like is characterized by a pair of end cells of triangular configuration with an extra reinforcing ply extending diagonally alongside the cell to cause the cell to be resistant to crushing or other deformation. The triangular cross section cell is so constructed that a distal edge thereof together with distal edges of a main panel of the folder is caused to be held snugly in a line of fold of the reinforcing ply of the cell.

1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures CUSHIONED SHIPPING FOLDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to cushioned folders for books or the like, the structure being characterized by a pair of hollow end cells resistant to crushing or other deformation to prevent the book from having the corners of the binding thereof from becoming dog-eared during shipment. Each of the end cells has a triangular configuration spacing the ends of the book from the ends of the folder, the triangular cell being characterized by an extra reinforcing ply along the oblique face of the triangular shaped end cell thereby causing the cell to be resistant to crushing or other deformation. The extra reinforcing flap is adapted to be folded about the triangular shaped cell and is arranged to hold an edge of the flap forming the triangular cell in the line of fold of the end cell. The folder is formed from a cut and scored blank having elements thereof foldable to enclosethe book, and defining the aforesaid cells protecting the ends of the book during shipment.

2. The Prior Art Skaggs US. Pat. No. 3,116,005 (Class 229/40) is an example of a shipping folder having the ends of a book packaged therein protected during shipment. Unlike Skaggs, the structure according to the present invention comprehends a pair of triangular shaped cells protecting the ends of the book and resistant to deformation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The cushioned folder is formed from a sheet of foldable paperboard or the like, the sheet being cut and folded to embrace a book to be shipped therein, the forming of the folder about the book resulting in the formation of a triangular shaped cell at each end of the folder and having a pair of reinforcing plies for preventing deformation thereof.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a cushioned shipping folder constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a cut and scored blank for forming the folder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the steps in forming the folder about a book;

FIG. 4 is a cross section looking in the direction of the arrows 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross section taken along the line 55 of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the closed folder.

The improved cushioned shipping folder denoted by the reference numeral 10 seen in FIG. 1 is formed from a cut and scored blank 10A seen in FIG. 2. The folder 10 seen in FIG. 1 is adapted to enclose a book or other flat article B. Blank 10A and folder 10 consist of opposed major panels 11 and 12 and opposed minor panels 13 and 14, these being hingedly connected together along score lines 16 to form a tubular structure. An outer closure flap 17 is connected to the minor parallel wall 13 along a fold line 18, and closure flap 17 is adapted to be closed against the underside of major wall 12, upon the closing of the folder 10 as seen in FIG. 1, flap 17 being secured to wall 12 in any convenient manner.

A closure and protecting structure is provided for each end of the folder If) and consists of first and second inner flaps l9 and 22 foldably connected to each other along a fold line 23, inner flap 19 being connected to wall 12 along a fold line 21. First inner flap 19 is defined also by cut lines 21A extending from the fold line 21 to the fold line 23 connecting the second inner flap 22 to the first inner flap 19.

The second inner flap 22 has the ends 24 thereof separated from the wall 12 along a out line 23A, there being a notch 27A at each end of the second inner flap 22 defined in part by a short cut line 26 extending inward from the distal edge 27 of the second flap 22.

Inner flap 19 is erected to a position perpendicular to the major wall 12, and the length of the edge 27, between the notches 27A at each end of the second inner flap 22, corresponds to the distance between the cut lines 21A extending from score line 21 to the score line 23. The second flap 22 can be folded to an oblique position with the notches 27A resting against the cut edges 23A in the wall 12.

The closure structure also includes a first outer flap 29 foldably connected to a second outer flap 32 along a fold line 33, first outer flap 29 being foldably connected to major wall 11 along a fold line 31. The first outer flap 29 is folded in facing and contacting relationship with the obliquely extending flap 22, and the second outer flap 32 is folded along score line 33 around the distal end of flap 22 and the end of wall 12 and against the opposite major wall 12 as seen more clearly in FIGS. 4 and 5. Flap 32 can be glued or otherwise secured to the major wall 12.

By reason of the notches 27A and the edge 27 in flap 22, the diagonally extending flap 22 presents but a single fold or thickness of material at the line of fold 33 between flaps 29 and 32. This is especially important in the assembly operation, and insures a well-defined fold capable of being readily achieved on closing machinery.

As seen 'in FIG. 6 end wall 13 is mitred as at 34, and wall 14 is similarly so mitred as at 36 so as to conform to the slope of flaps 22 and 29 forming the protective cell seen in FIGS. 3 and 4.

In closing the container 10, the flaps 32 and 17 are brought into abutting relationship, the ends of such flaps being respectively mitred as at 37 and 38.

By reason of the construction described, the ends of the book and the corners thereof are protected against dog-caring, the cells at the ends of the folder 10 being extremely resistant to deformation by reason of the reinforcement and the configuration thereof.

We claim:

1. A cushioned shipping folder formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard or the like, comprising:

a. opposed pairs of major and minor parallel walls foldably interconnected to form a tubular structure;

b. an outer closure flap foldably connected to one of said parallel walls and secured to an adjacent parallel wall of said tubular structure;

0. a closure and protecting structure for each end of said tubular structure, said structure comprising: i. a pair of first and second inner flaps foldably connected to each other with one of said flaps being foldably connected to one of said major parallel walls adjacent to the end thereof;

A. said first inner flap being folded to a position generally perpendicular to said one major parallel wall;

B. said second inner flap of said pair of inner flaps being folded obliquely with respect to said first inner flap and obliquely with respect to said one major parallel wall to provide an end cell of triangular cross section;

C. an elongated notch at each end of said second inner flap;

D. said elongated notches fitting against those portions of said major parallel wall at the ends of said second inner flap to provide a pair of exposed cut edges in said major parallel wall and said second inner flap upon folding of said first and second inner flap;

ii. a pair of first and second outer flaps foldably iii. said obliquely extending second inner flap being engageable with the line of fold between said first and second outer flaps to provide snug bearing of said cut edges with said outer pairs of flaps. 

1. A cushioned shipping folder formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard or the like, comprising: a. opposed pairs of major and minor parallel walls foldably interconnected to form a tubular structure; b. an outer closure flap foldably connected to one of said parallel walls and secured to an adjacent parallel wall of said tubular structure; c. a closure and protecting structure for each end of said tubular structure, said structure comprising: i. a pair of first and second inner flaps foldably connected to each other with one of said flaps being foldably connected to one of said major parallel walls adjacent to the end thereof; A. said first inner flap being folded to a position generally perpendicular to said one major parallel wall; B. said second inner flap of said pair of inner flaps being folded obliquely with respect to said first inner flap and obliquely with respect to said one major parallel wall to provide an end cell of triangular cross section; C. an elongated Notch at each end of said second inner flap; D. said elongated notches fitting against those portions of said major parallel wall at the ends of said second inner flap to provide a pair of exposed cut edges in said major parallel wall and said second inner flap upon folding of said first and second inner flap; ii. a pair of first and second outer flaps foldably connected to each other along a line of fold, said first outer flap being foldably connected to one end of the other of said major parallel walls; A. said first outer flap being folded to a position in facing relationship with said obliquely extending second inner flap to reinforce the same; B. said second outer flap being folded and secured to said one of said major parallel walls; iii. said obliquely extending second inner flap being engageable with the line of fold between said first and second outer flaps to provide snug bearing of said cut edges with said outer pairs of flaps. 